Chain and mounting for stones

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a mounting for a stone. In one preferred embodiment, the mounting comprises a wire loop substantially in the form of a toroidal helix; the loop having a plurality of notches therein; the notches being configured to receive the edges of a stone. In one embodiment, the wire loop is rigid. In another embodiment, the wire loop is resilient. In another aspect, the present invention comprises a chain. In one preferred embodiment, the chain comprises a first wire loop substantially in the form of a toroidal helix, the helix having eight coils, and a first link comprising a second wire loop through a first coil of the toroidal helix and a third link comprising a second wire loop through a second coil of the toroidal helix, the first and second coils of the toroidal helix being separated by two coils of the toroidal helix.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional mountings for stones typically require the use of prongs, and other specially fabricated metal structures. Such structures are difficult and expensive to fabricate, and fragile. There is thus the need for a simple mounting that integrates naturally with a chain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a mounting for a stone. In one preferred embodiment, the mounting comprises a wire loop substantially in the form of a toroidal helix; the loop having a plurality of notches therein; the notches being configured to receive the edges of a stone. In one embodiment, the wire loop is rigid. In another embodiment, the wire loop is resilient.

In another aspect, the present invention comprises a chain. In one preferred embodiment, the chain comprises a first wire loop substantially in the form of a toroidal helix, the helix having eight coils, and a first link comprising a second wire loop through a first coil of the toroidal helix and a third link comprising a second wire loop through a second coil of the toroidal helix, the first and second coils of the toroidal helix being separated by two coils of the toroidal helix. Alternatively, other numbers of coils, preferably between four and 36, may be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an example preferred chain and mounting embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of an example preferred chain and mounting embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first side view of an example preferred chain and mounting embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second side view of an example preferred chain and mounting embodiment.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates two coils of an example preferred mounting embodiment with notches configured to receive the edges of a stone.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates two coils of an example preferred mounting embodiment with a stone in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a mounting for a stone. In another aspect, the invention comprises a chain. In a third aspect, the invention comprises a mounting for a stone and a chain. An example preferred embodiment of these three aspects is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The mounting 101 preferably comprises a wire loop disposed substantially in the form of a toroidal helix. The example preferred embodiment 101 comprises a substantially toroidal helix comprising eight coils of the wire loop. Notches are cut in the wire loop, the notches being configured to receive the edges of a stone 110. In a preferred embodiment, the wire is resilient. In another embodiment, the wire is rigid. Preferably, the wire is gold or another precious metal, such as platinum. Preferably the stone 110 is a jewel, such as diamond or other gem stone.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates two coils of the substantially toroidally helical form of the wire loop, 501 and 510, together with notches therein, 520 and 530, configured to receive the edges of a stone. FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the coils 501 and 510 with a stone 601 in place.

Again referring to FIG. 1, the chain preferably comprises one or more wire loops disposed in a substantially toroidally helical form such as 101, together with one or more link 120 through a coil of the substantially toroidally helical form. The substantially toroidally helical form may, but need not, include notches to serve as a mounting. In a preferred embodiment, a chain comprising a plurality of wire loops disposed in a substantially toroidally helical form such as 101 are linked together with a plurality of links through a coil such as 140 of each of two of the wire loops such as 101. More elaborate linking arrangements, such as chain mail, may also be made.

One preferred embodiment comprises a graduated chain, in which the size of the toroidally helical form varies along the length of the chain. Another preferred embodiment comprises a first chain having graduated chains hanging from the first chain at regular intervals.

In a preferred embodiment, the wire loops are mountings, and comprise eight coils. In this preferred embodiment, links 120 and 130 are through coils 140 and 150 respectively of wire loop 101, and coils 140 and 150 are separated by two other coils of the wire loop. The preferred number of coils and spacing between links yields a useful naturally curved chain for wearing as a necklace that has a tendency to lay with the mounted stones facing outward.

The example preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is manufactured from rhodium-plated silver and cubic zirconia stones. Preferably, an alloy comprising approximately 86% gold, _(—)7_% copper, _(—)6_% silver, and _(—)1_% IRO alloying metal is used, with stones of diamond. The wire size is preferably between approximately 0.45 mm to approximately 2.0 mm, with round cross-section of uniform diameter along the length of the wire. The wire is annealed and then wrapped around a mandrel to form a helix. The mandrel preferably has a diameter slightly less than twice the diameter of the wire. For example, 0.8 mm diameter wire is preferably wrapped around a mandrel having a diameter of 1.5 mm; 0.9 mm diameter wire is used with a mandrel of 1.7 mm diameter, 1.5 mm diameter wire is used with a mandrel of 2.9 mm diameter; and 2 mm diameter wire is preferably used with a mandrel of 3.8 mm diameter.

Notches are cut in the wire to receive a stone using a cutting tool having a profile matching the profile of the edge of the stone. In this preferred embodiment, the stone is a brilliant-cut diamond. A burr for brilliant-cut diamond is available from Bijoutil, Stockbrunnenrain 6, 4123 Allschwil, Swtizerland. The preferred tool is “Brilliantform,” form 414, and is available in different sizes having catalog number 43101 to 43119.

The wire helix is cut into pieces, each piece having eight coils. The eight-coil helix is then bent in a circular manner into a substantially toroidally helical form as shown in FIGS. 1-4, and the ends of the wire are soldered together. Other than soldering, the wire is preferably not heat treated during or after it is formed into coils, increasing its resiliency. Preferably, the coils are straightened to a more nearly circular shape as shown in FIG. 1.

A stone is inserted into the notched and formed wire, which is temporarily displaced, and then re-forms to seat the stone in the notches. For smaller diameter wire, such as 0.65 mm or smaller, the coils are preferably soldered together around the stone to avoid unseating the stone when the chain is under tension. The size of the stone is selected based on the size of the wire. For a 0.45 mm wire, a 1.2 mm stone is preferably used; for a 0.55 mm wire, a 1.5 mm stone is preferably used; for a 0.65 mm wire, a 1.7 mm stone is preferably used; for a 0.8 mm wire, a 2.0 mm stone is preferably used; for a 1.0 mm wire, a 2.5 mm stone is preferably used; for a 1.1 mm wire, a 2.9 mm stone is preferably used; for a 1.2 mm wire, a 3.1 mm stone is preferably used; for a 1.35 mm wire, a 3.6 mm stone is preferably used; for a 1.5 mm wire, a 4.1 mm stone is preferably used; for a 1.65 mm wire, a 4.5 mm stone is preferably used. Other sizes are possible.

The invention is described in terms of the preferred embodiments, but is not limited thereto. 

1. A mounting for a stone, comprising: a wire loop disposed in a substantially toroidally helical form; the loop having a plurality of notches therein; the notches being configured to receive the edges of a stone.
 2. The mounting of claim 1, further comprising a chain link through one coil of the helix.
 3. The mounting of claim 1, wherein the toroidal helix comprises between four and twenty coils.
 4. The mounting of claim 1, wherein the toroidal helix comprises eight coils.
 5. The mounting of claim 1, wherein the wire is resilient.
 6. The mounting of claim 1, wherein the wire is rigid.
 7. A chain, comprising: a first wire loop disposed in a substantially toroidally helical form comprising eight coils; a first link comprising a second wire loop through a first coil of the substantially toroidally helical form; a second link comprising a third wire loop through a second coil of the substantially toroidallly helical form; the first and second coils of the substantially toroidally helical form being separated by two coils of the toroidal helix. 